CHICAGO 

Its   History   and   Its   Builders 


A  CENTURY  OF  MARVELOUS  GROWTH 


By  J.  SEYMOUR  CURREY 

I    Honorary  Vice-President    Illinois    State   Historical   Society,   Vice-President 
Cook   County  Historical  Society,  Member  Chicago  Historical  Society, 
American  Historical  Association,  Illinois  State  Library  Association, 


National  Geographic  Society,  Chicago  Geographic  Society. 


PROFUSELY    ILLUSTRATED 


1910 
THE  S.  J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

Chicago 


CHICAGO 

Its   History   and   Its   Builders 


A  CENTURY  OF  MARVELOUS  GROWTH 


By  J.  SEYMOUR  CURREY 

Honorary  Vice-President    Illinois    State    Historical   Society,    Vice-President 

Cook    County   Historical  Society,  Member  Chicago  Historical  Society, 

American  Historical  Association,  Illinois  State  Library  Association, 

National  Geographic  Society,  Chicago  Geographic  Society. 


PROFUSELY    ILLUSTRATED 


1910 

THE  S    J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
Chicago 


DITORIAL  STAFF   AND  ADVISORY   BOARD. 


RT.  REV.  SAMUEL  W.  FALLOWS, 

Bishop  Reformed  Episcopal  Church. 

.    HON.  JESSE  HOLDOM, 

Judge  Appellate  Court. 

GEORGE  P.  UPTON, 

Formerly  Editorial  Writer  Chicago  Tribune. 

ISHAM  RANDOLPH, 

Consulting  Engineer  Inland  Improvement  Commission. 

FRANK  W.  SMITH, 

Cashier  Corn  Exchange  National  Bank. 
President  Pioneer  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Chicago. 

FRANCIS  A.  EASTMAN, 

City  Statistician. 

HON.  ORRIN  N.  CARTER, 

Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois. 

ELIAS  COLBERT, 

Formerly  Editorial  Writer  Chicago  Tribune. 


GEORGE  H.  FERGUS, 

Fergus  Printing  Company. 


DR.  NATHAN  S   DAVIS, 

Physician  and  Surgeon. 


MISS  CAROLINE  M.  McILVAINE, 

Librarian  Chicago  Historical  Society. 


WILLIAM  J.  ONAHAN, 

Retired. 


GEORGE  F.  STONE, 

Secretary  Chicago  Board  of  Trade 


A.  F.  NIGHTINGALE, 

County  Superintendent  of  Schools 

ROBERT  J.  BENNETT 

Vice/President  W.  M.  Hoyt  Company. 

HON.  HENRY  S.  BOUTELL, 

Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Sixth  District. 


Page    two 


NTRODUCTION. 


history  is  made  in  a  city  like  this  in  every  decade  of 
its  existence  to  fill  many  a  volume  with  the  annals  of  its 
progress  and  achievements  in  every  field  of  human  endeavor. 
The  bald  narrative  of  the  city's  growth  is  one  of  the  "fairy 
tales  of  science,"  and  the  observer  who  has  followed  its 
course  of  development  never  ceases  to  wonder  at  the  re- 
markable results  of  its  material  and  intellectual  activities  as 
they  take  form  before  his  eyes.  No  matter  what  plans  of  improvement 
are  made,  it  is  found  before  many  years  that  they  were  not  sufficiently 
comprehensive,  and  must  be  enlarged  and  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  later 
time.  If,  fortunately,  the  founders  of  our  great  institutions,  our  libraries, 
museums,  University,  Historical  Society,  or  Art  Institute,  have  left  room 
for  expansion  of  the  original  plan,  the  need  for  greater  work  quickly 
presses  upon  its  capacities. 

Dates  and  statistics  are  the  dry  bones  of  history.  Clothe  them  with 
human  interest  and  they  become  imbued  with  life  and  are  awakened  into 
reality.  No  forward  sweep  of  vision,  however  far  it  may  be  projected, 
can  have  its  proper  value  and  significance  without  a  knowledge  of  the  past 
for  comparison.  No  realities  of  the  present  can  be  of  the  best  use  or 
enjoyment  to  us  unless  a  background  of  the  past  is  placed  before  us  for 
our  guidance  and  instruction.  The  man,  who  makes  use  not  only  of  what 
his  own  experience  has  taught  him,  but  of  what  he  has  learned  of  the 
experiences  of  those  who  have  gone  before,  adds  to  his  efficiency  in  pro- 
portion to  his  knowledge  thus  acquired.  "History,"  says  Gibbon,  "is 


Page    three 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

MARQUETTE'S   MAP. 

Showing  the  western  part  of  Lake  Michigan  and  route  of  Joliet's  expedition  of  discovery  in 
1673.  Joliet  and  Marquette  began  their  journey  at  Green  Bay,  proceeded  up  the  Fox  River  and 
down  the  Wisconsin  River;  followed  the  Mississippi  down  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas 
River,  and  returned  by  way  of  the  Illinois  River  and  the  DesPlaines^Chicago  Portage. 

Page    f  o  UT 


little  more  than  the  register  of  the  crimes,  follies  and  misfortunes  of  man- 
kind;" but  that  is  only  a  half  truth.  "History  is  philosophy  teaching  by 
example."  More  than  that:  it  makes  us  the  heirs  of  the  ages,  records  the 
advances  in  enlightenment,  warns  us  of  dangers  to  avoid,  and  furnishes  us 
examples  of  the  virtues  in  every  situation  in  life  which  we  ourselves  may 
encounter.  "If  men  could  learn  from  history,"  says  Coleridge,  "what 
lessons  it  might  teach  them." 

Why  was  it  that  this  city  outstripped  all  other  competitors  in  the  race  as 
a  center  of  trade  and  transportation  ?  The  locality  as  Nature  left  it  was  not 
inviting.  There  was  a  wide-spread  flat  but  a  few  feet  above  the  level  of  the' 
surface  of  Lake  Michigan,  extending  far  to  the  south  and  west,  intersected 
by  a  sluggish  water  course,  while  to  the  north  of  the  stream  a  sandy  soil, 
but  slightly  elevated  above  the  lands  in  the  other  direction,  supported  a 
forest  of  oak  and  maple.  But  by  way  of  this  slow-moving  stream  lay  a 
highway  to  the  "great  river,"  which  the  explorers  established  as  their 
route  of  travel,  and  by  which  the  conquest  of  the  magnificient  domain 
beyond  was  made.  Other  routes  were  practicable,  one  by  way  of  the  Fox 
river  of  Wisconsin  and  the  Wisconsin  river,  another  by  way  of  the  St. 
Joseph  and  Kankakee  rivers;  but  none  was  found  where  all  the  conditions 
were  so  favorable  as  the  route  by  way  of  the  Chicago  and  DesPlaines 
rivers. 

More  than  that,  there  was  a  sturdy  class  of  settlers  who,  in  the  early 
days  of  the  century  just  closed,  coming  from  states  farther  east,  whose 
ancestors  had  themselves  been  pioneers,  were  most  fortunately  attracted  to 
this  spot.  Representatives  of  the  virile  race  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  who 
after  a  century  or  two  of  residence  in  New  England,  New  York  and  Ohio, 
pushed  on  until  they  planted  themselves  here  at  the  gateway  of  empire. 
Great  numbers  of  Scotch-Irish  from  the  mother  country,  and  Germans 
from  the  fatherland,  came  and  added  "bark  and  steel"  to  the  human  fibre 
of  the  growing  metropolis,  until  the  new  city  gained  an  impetus  which, 
as  yet,  shows  no  signs  of  exhausting  itself.  Not  only  are  they  the  sup- 
port of  the  best  traditions  of  the  nation,  but  are  wise  and  strong  in 
building  up  and  maintaining  the  material  and  moral  institutions,  which  are 
the  striking  characteristics  of  the  community.  Add  to  this  the  natural 

Page    five 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

HOUSE  OF  JOHN  KINZIE 

On   the  north  side   of  the  river,  opposite  Fort  Dearborn.     Its  location 
was  at  the  foot  of  Pine  Street. 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society, 

JOHN  H.  KINZIE. 
Son  of  John  Kinzie,  Chicago's  first  settler. 


Page    six 


and  valuable  increment  from  the  immigration  of  the  Scandinavian  and  other 
nations  of  Europe  that  have  been  pouring  their  best  and  bravest  into  the 
city  and  the  west  for  generations,  and  it  is  easily  seen  what  accounts  for 
the  pre-eminence  of  Chicago  and  its  tributary  territory. 

"In  the  rapidly  developing  west,"  says  Thwaites,  "a  hundred  years 
and  less  mark  the  gap  between  a  primeval  wilderness  and  a  complete  civili- 
zation. Time,  like  space,  is,  after  all,  but  comparative.  In  these  hundred 
years,  the  northwest  has  developed  from  nothing  to  everything." 

History,  like  charity,  begins  at  home.  The  first  step  in  its  study 
should  be  regarding  the  place  we  live  in,  though  in  practice  our  systems  of 
teaching  take  up  the  history  of  remote  times  and  places  which  belong  to  a 
later  stage  of  historical  study. 

In  later  years  many  great  movements  and  enterprises,  whose  begin- 
nings and  progress  have  found  a  place  in  former  histories,  have  made 
important  advances  or  diminished  to  the  vanishing  point.  For  example, 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  prodigiously  affected  the  people  of  this 
city  during  the  years  that  it  was  passing  through  its  several  stages  of  con- 
struction to  completion  and  activity.  Its  importance  as  a  factor  in  the 
development  of  the  city  has  gradually  waned  until  all  its  traditions  are 
now  memories  only,  and  its  prestige  is  transferred  to  the  great  waterway 
schemes  in  course  of  realization.  Our  lake  marine  has  totally  changed  in 
character  in  the  last  generation.  The  World's  Fair  has  passed  into  history, 
leaving  behind  it  "trailing  clouds  of  glory;"  the  literary  and  artistic  life 
of  the  people  has  been  quickened,  keeping  pace  with  the  immense  expan- 
sion of  the  material  side  of  existence.  Plans  for  railroad  improvement, 
city  transportation,  extension  of  parks,  and  the  beautification  of  the  city, 
are  engaging  the  attention  of  the  community.  It  is  the  day  of  engineer- 
ing triumphs,  and  enterprises  of  "great  pith  and  moment"  are  continually 
becoming  accomplished  facts.  The  list  is  long  which  might  be  mentioned 
as  examples,  and  while  some  have  finished  their  careers,  others  again  have 
entered  upon  new  and  enlarged  fields  of  activity  and  usefulness. 

Chicago  has  had  its  historians,  though  their  works  are  difficult  to  pro- 
cure and  are  only  to  be  found  in  the  libraries  of  public  institutions  or 
hidden  away  in  private  collections.  There  can  be  no  question  of  the  need 

Page    seven 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 


^ 


Came  to  Chicago  in   1836;  became   Member  of  Congress  in   1843,  serving  six   terms,  and 
was  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1857  and  I860. 


Page    eight 


of  a  history  prepared  on  a  plan  to  mark  the  points  of  the  rapidly  receding 
past,  with  due  regard  to  their  true  perspective  value.  What  has  been 
written  is  of  great  value,  but  the  view-point  has  changed  in  the  years 
since  a  history  laying  any  claims  to  fulness  has  appeared.  What  were 
important  events  have  diminished  in  historic  value,  and  with  a  revision  of 
statement  there  is  demanded  a  thousand  additions  to  complete  the  presenta- 
tion into  a  consistent  and  harmonious  whole.  Likewise  the  constituency 
of  readers  has  changed;  a  new  generation  has  come  upon  the  scene 
eagerly  seeking  knowledge  of  the  events  of  the  past. 

The  plan  of  this  work  will  embrace  the  following  principal  divisions : 

1.  The  explorers'  period  and  the  French  domination. 

2.  The  period  of  settlement  and  early  growth. 

3.  The  period  of  the  Civil  War  and  the  Great  Fire. 

4.  Lake  marine  and  waterways. 

5.  Railways. 

6.  Manufacturing. 

7.  Mercantile. 

8.  Banks  and  banking. 

9.  Real  estate. 

10.  Building  and  architecture. 

11.  Religious  history. 

12.  Medical  history. 

13.  Bench  and  bar. 

14.  Educational. 

15.  Literary  and  artistic. 

16.  Science  and  culture. 

17.  World's  Fair. 

18.  Men  of  Chicago. 

19.  Chicago  womanhood. 

20.  Chicago  beautiful. 


Page    nine 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

CHICAGO  AS  IT  APPEARED  IN  J804. 
Fort  Dearborn  on  the  left.     John  Kinzie's  house  on  the  right. 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

FORT  DEARBORN  IN  1804. 

Destroyed  at  the  time  of   the  Chicago  Massacre  in   I8J2.       The  later  Fort  Dearborn  was 

built  in   1816. 
Page    ten 


By  permission  of  Chicago   Historical  Society.  From  painting  by  Edgar  S.  Cameron. 

CHICAGO'S  FIRST  POSTOFFICE  IN  1833. 
Log  building  near  the  present  site  of  Lake  street  bridge  at  the  east  end. 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  CHICAGO. 
Begun  in   1896,  completed  in   1905. 


Page    eleven 


J.  SEYMOUR  CURREY. 


Page    twelve 


SKETCH     OF    THE    AUTHOR. 


>R.  J.  SEYMOUR  CURREY  has  been  a  resident  of  Chicago 
and  Evanston  since  his  boyhood.  Born  in  Peekskill,  in  the 
state  of  New  York,  he  came  west  with  his  father  and  family 
and  lived  for  a  time  in  Will  county,  where  his  father  carried 
on  a  farm.  Being  ambitious  for  a  college  education,  he  found 
employment  in  Chicago  and  engaged  Prof.  Geo.  Quackenbos,  then  living 
on  Chicago  avenue  near  Rush  street,  as  a  private  tutor,  and  prepared  him- 
self for  admission  to  college.  It  was  his  purpose  to  go  to  Yale  College, 
but  finally  he  decided  on  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston.  After 
some  three  years  of  preparation  with  Prof.  Quackenbos,  he  entered  the 
freshman  class  of  the  Northwestern  University  in  the  class  of  '71.  He 
did  not  complete  the  course  wTith  this  class,  but  from  that  time  onward  he 
has  maintained  his  residence  in  Evanston. 

Having  been  regarded  as  a  man  who  was  in  sympathy  with  the  cause 
of  the  public  library  movement,  then  in  the  infancy  of  its  development, 
he  was  elected  in  1886  as  a  director  on  the  board  of  the  Evanston  Public 
Library.  In  this  work  he  continued  twenty-two  years,  being  regularly 
re-elected  when  his  term  expired  so  long  as  Evanston  remained  a  village; 
and  in  1892,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a  city,  he  was  appointed  by  the 
mayor  to  continue  in  the  office,  and  re-appointed  on  each  occasion  when  the 
regular  term  expired,  until  July,  1908,  at  which  time  he  declined  to  serve 
longer.  During  the  period  of  his  service  on  the  library  board  he  acted  as 
secretary,  vice-president  and  president;  and  largely  owing  to  his  activity 
and  influence  a  new  building  costing  $135,000  was  erected,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  buildings  of  its  size  in  the  west. 

The  city  council  of  Evanston,  in  a  series  of  resolutions,  expressed 
its  "deep  sense  of  gratitude  for  his  faithful  and  efficient  services  while 
acting  so  long  as  a  trustee  for  our  city  library."  The  board  of  directors 
of  the  Evanston  Public  Library  adopted  resolutions  which  were  engrossed 
on  parchment  and  handsomely  framed,  and  in  which  the  following  language 
was  used:  "That  we  deeply  regret  Mr.  Currey's  retirement  from  the 

Page    thirteen 


NEW  COOK  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE. 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

COOK  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE  1865. 
Procession  leaving   the  building  at  the  time  that  President  Lincoln's  remains  were  lying 

in  state,  May  I,  1865. 
Page    fourteen 


board  of  directors  of  this  library ;  that  we  recognize  that  the  final  comple- 
tion of  our  new  library  building  is  very  largely  due  to  his  active  and 
continuous  efforts  through  many  years." 

In  1898  Mr.  Currey,  together  with  Judge  Harvey  B.  Hurd  and  others, 
organized  the  Evanston  Historical  Society,  of  which  he  is  now  president. 
This  society  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  model  societies  of  its  kind  in  the 
west,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  support  of  the  community  with  which 
it  is  identified. 

More  recently  Mr.  Currey  has  been  instrumental  in  the  formation  of 
the  Cook  County  Historical  Society,  of  which  he  is  vice-president.  He  is 
also  honorary  vice-president  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society  at 
Springfield,  corresponding  member  of  the  Chicago  Historical  Society, 
member  of  the  American  Historical  Society  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  the 
Illinois  State  Library  Association,  the  National  Geographical  Society  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  the  Chicago  Geographical  Society,  and  the  Sons  of 
the  Revolution.  From  this  it  can  be  seen  that  his  tastes  and  associations 
are  of  a  character  which  will  fit  him  for  the  task  of  preparing  a  history  of 
Chicago,  with  the  life  and  history  of  which  he  has  been  so  long  and  inti- 
mately connected. 

In  the  preparation  of  contributions  to  various  publications  on  subjects 
of  historical  interest,  Mr.  Currey  has  been  a  prolific  wTriter  and  lecturer, 
and  he  is  regarded  as  the  chief  authority  on  matters  of  history  connected 
with  the  North  Shore,  which  has  necessarily  included  Chicago  history. 

Throughout  the  long  period  of  his  residence  in  Evanston,  Mr.  Currey 
has  been  a  daily  visitor  to  Chicago,  except  during  temporary  absences. 
From  a  time  anterior  to  the  great  fire  he  has  been  in  constant  contact  with 
the  city's  life  in  all  its  stages  of  development;  and  what  this  means  to  a 
man  wrhose  interest  in  affairs  is  keen,  and  whose  acquaintance  is  extensive 
among  men  who  are  influential  in  the  building  up  of  the  city,  can  be  readily 
understood;  and  thus  he  has  naturally  and  inevitably  become  identified  with 
the  spirit  and  modes  of  thought  of  the  people  with  W7hom  he  has  been  so 
long  associated.  Especially  familiar  with  the  details  of  commercial  and 
manufacturing  enterprises,  he  posseses  a  wide  knowledge  of  their  various 
activities,  and  has  either  assisted  in  or  directed  the  organization  and  con- 
duct of  a  number  of  lar.ire  corporations. 

Page    fifteen 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

RUINS  OF  THE  INTERIOR  OF  THE  CHICAGO  POSTOFFICE 
after  the  great  fire  of  1871. 


By  permission  of  Chicago  Historical  Society. 

INTERSTATE   INDUSTRIAL  EXPOSITION. 

Built  in   1873;  demolished  in  1892. 
Page    sixteen 


PUBLISHERS7  ANNOUNCEMENT. 


HE  work  herein  outlined  has  been  in  contemplation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  While  several  histories  of  the  city  have  been 
published,  we  felt  there  was  still  here  a  field  to  be  explored, 
facts  unearthed,  and  a  new  setting  given  to  stories  heretofore 
published.  In  the  selection  of  the  editor  for  the  work,  many 
inquiries  were  made  of  those  most  directly  interested,  and  who  have  taken 
the  greatest  interest  in  the  city's  history,  and  almost  unanimously  we  were 
referred  to  J.  Seymour  Currey  as  being  the  one  man  best  equipped  by 
education  and  training  to  undertake  the  great  task.  He  has  gathered 
around  him  as  Associate  Editors  and  Advisory  Board  men  and  women 
specialists  in  certain  lines,  who  by  their  writings  and  by  their  advice  and 
counsel  will  be  of  inestimable  help  in  making  this  the  greatest  local  history 
ever  published. 

Mr.  Currey  has  entered  upon  the  work,  and  will  throw  his  whole  soul 
into  the  production  of  a  history  that  will  be  unequalled  by  that  of  any 
great  municipality.  The  publishers  place  around  him  no  restrictions,  and 
only  request  of  him  to  do  his  best.  On  our  part,  we  promise  that  wre  will 
do  our  utmost  to  make  the  work  mechanically  all  that  can  be  desired.  It 
will  appear  in  five  royal  octavo  volumes,  printed  on  a  fine  quality  of  book 
paper,  with  many  beautiful  illustrations  to  attract  the  eye  and  illustrate 
the  subject  matter  of  the  history.  A  large  sum  will  be  expended  for  this 
purpose. 

The  work  will  appear  in  three  styles  of  binding — de  luxe,  half  morocco 
and  buckram. 

Page    seventeen 


FREDERICK  A.  HOWE 

Arrived   in  Chicago  June  7,    1834,  and  has  resided   here  continuously  since 
that  time.     He  is  seventyvnme  years  old. 


The  de  luxe  edition  will  be  very  attractive,  and  will  find  a  place  in  the 
homes  of  the  most  refined  and  intelligent  people.  This  is  limited  to  five 
hundred  numbered  sets,  with  the  autograph  of  the  author  in  each.  It  will 
be  bound  in  three-quarter  imported  genuine  Persian  morocco,  the  binding 
to  be  all  hand-made  writh  extra  large  corners  of  the  same  material,  using 
imported  German  cocoa  paper  on  the  sides  of  the  book,  the  inside  linings 
of  the  covers  to  be  of  the  same  paper  to  match  the  outside.  The  backs 
are  to  be  finished  in  genuine  gold  leaf  with  a  special  design  of  tooling, 
unique  in  character,  suitable  for  this  style  of  book  making.  The  edges 
are  to  be  gilt  with  genuine  gold  leaf,  and  both  the  covers  to  be  reinforced 
with  muslin  joints. 

As  may  be  inferred,  the  work  is  one  of  great  magnitude  and  will 
require  time  and  much  research  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Currey,  and,  therefore, 
no  definite  time  can  be  given  for  issuing  the  same.  We  want  to  make  it 
as  perfect  as  possible,  and  we  feel  that  the  citizens  of  this  great  city  will 
give  their  support  to  it  and  aid  in  all  their  power  to  make  it  what  it  should 
be  —  a  most  attractive  and  trustworthy  history. 

The  plan  of  the  work  contemplated  has  already  received  the  hearty 
endorsement  of  many  of  Chicago's  most  progressive  citizens. 

THE  S.  J.  CLARKE  PUBLISHING  CO. 

358  Dearborn  Street,  Chicago. 


Page    nineteen 


From  photograph  taken  in  1870 

MRS.  ADALINE  (NICHOLS)  HEARTT 

Oldest  living  resident  of  Chicago.  Born  Fort 
Niagara,  New  York,  March  21,  1831.  Came  to 
Chicago  June  15,  1832.  Daughter  of  Luther 
Nichols,  soldier  at  Fort  Dearborn. 


Page    twenty 


By  permission  of  The  Inter-Ocean. 


